Finding out that a loved one has Alzheimer's disease can be stressful, frightening, and overwhelming. As you begin to take stock of the situation, here are some tips that may help:

1. Ask the doctor any questions you have about memory loss. Find out what treatments might work best to alleviate symptoms or address dementia-related behavior.

2. Find a support group where you can share your feelings and concerns. Members of support groups often have helpful ideas or know of useful resources based on their own experiences. Online support groups make it possible for caregivers to receive support without having to leave home.

3. Study your day to see if you can develop a routine that makes things go more smoothly. If there are times of day when the person with memory loss is less confused or more cooperative, plan your routine to make the most of those moments. Keep in mind that the way the person functions may change from day to day, so try to be flexible and adapt your routine as needed.

4. Consider using adult day care or respite services to ease the day-to-day demands of caregiving. These services allow you to have a break while knowing that the person with memory loss is being well cared for.

5. Begin to plan for the future. This may include getting financial and legal documents in order, investigating long-term care options, and determining what services are covered by health insurance and Medicare.

Support groups are regularly scheduled, free gatherings of persons who are providing care for persons with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder. The primary purpose of these groups is to provide education and knowledge about the disease and caregiver skills. Groups remind caregivers they are not alone, give them a chance to say what they are feeling in a supportive environment, learn new strategies and resources in the community and foster support networks.

Science Daily:Neuroscientists have identified a new way for brain cells to become fated to die during Alzheimer's diseases. The research team has found the first evidence that the activation of a biological pathway called necroptosis, which causes neuronal loss, is closely linked with Alzheimer's severity, cognitive decline and extreme loss of tissue and brain weight that are all advanced hallmarks of the disease.

World Health:Use of speech fillers, pauses, and other verbal changes may be early indicators of cognitive decline, which could lead to Alzheimer's disease. The manner in which one speaks may help determine if they are developing mental problems. The use of filler words (for example "um"), a high prevalence of pauses, and additional verbal changes might be an early indication of cognitive decline. If the decline is sharp enough, it can spur the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Medical News Today: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, thought to be caused by buildup of proteins in the brain. But there is increasing evidence that different biological processes are at the heart of the disease, providing scientists with a different approach to possible therapies.READ MORE

ABC News:Your speech may, um, help reveal if you're uh ... developing thinking problems. More pauses, filler words and other verbal changes might be an early sign of mental decline, which can lead to Alzheimer's disease, a study suggests.

Local News 8: A head's up to any senior citizen who may be looking to visit our national parks in the future. Senior Lifetime Passes for the National Park Service will be going from $10 to $80 by the end of August. Last year, Congress passed legislation raising the price of National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass. But if you're on a fixed budget, you can now get an annual senior pass. It will let you visit any park for one year, and it's $20. Four of those can then be used for a lifetime pass.

Sprinkle, squish between my toes,
The smell of ocean to my nose.
I can feel each grain of sand,
It falls from air into my hand.
The shells I find along the shore,
Picked up by birds that fly and soar.
They sparkle like the ocean’s waves,
And carry sand from all the lakes.
I walk along the tip of the sea,
That’s where my feet leave prints to be.
I walk all the way to the end of the land,
The land that holds this beautiful sand.

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Therapy dolls have a remarkable effect on women (and men) in the middle and later stages of Alzheimer's disease. They are calming, soothing and bring the person back to a time in their life when they felt useful and had a sense of purpose; when caring for a young family member was the #1 priority. Alzheimer’s doll therapy helps patients escape from a world where someone is always caring for them.

The Alzheimer's Store is dedicated in researching and providing products to assist caregivers with the daily management of the Alzheimer's, dementia and memory loss communities...

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The Alzheimer's Store researches products that can assist caregivers in the daily management of their loved one who has Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias. We feel the products offered on our website help to reduce anxiety and agitation, a common side effect of the disease. If you have any products that you feel would be beneficial to the Alzheimer & dementia community, we encourage you to share them with us.